The University of Freiburg, one of Germany’s nine Universities of Excellence, invites applications for 10 fully-funded Ph.D. scholarships in linguistics, beginning no earlier than October 1, 2009, and no later than March 1, 2010. Successful applicants will be members of the Research Training Group on “Frequency effects in language” (GRK 1624/1) funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Synopsis

Frequency is assumed to be a possible determinant in usage-based models of language change, language acquisition and language processing. In the Ph.D. projects this determinant will be investigated with a view both to its explanatory potential and to its limitations. In its integration of descriptive-linguistic, functional, cognitivist and psycholinguistic approaches and its broad empirical corpus base, with a focus on standard and non-standard varieties of European languages, the envisaged research is without parallel and opens up a new, constructively critical approach to usage-based modelling in linguistics that has great innovative potential.

Linguistics in Freiburg

With its various Masters programmes in linguistics, the powerful linguistics unit at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), hosting leading linguists of the world, and the Hermann-Paul-Graduate School of Language Sciences, and strong connections of the University of Basel, the University of Freiburg has created a unique infrastructure and research environment in linguistics and the cognitive sciences, especially for graduates at Ph.D. and postdoctoral level.

We offer:

* a full grant of 13,200 € per annum for a period of up to 3 years (subject to intermediate evaluations)
* 1,000 € travel grant per annum
* an additional grant for inviting guest scholars and organizing workshops
* a high-profile research environment bridging the gap between linguistics and the cognitive sciences
* an interdisciplinary teaching programme
* an efficient supervision and mentoring programme
* ample opportunity for workshops, guest lectures and one-on-one tutorials with and by leading linguists of the world hosted as external Fellows at the FRIAS
* a vibrant community of Ph.D. students and post-docs in the language sciences
* one of the leading European universities (both in teaching and research; member of the League of European Research Universities)
* a campus in the city centre with a highly international atmosphere
* one of the most attractive university towns in Germany (total population: about 220,000), capital of the Black Forest, in one of the most scenic areas of Germany, bordering immediately on France and Switzerland

We expect:

* an excellent first degree in linguistics (including psycholinguistics, cognitive linguistics) or the cognitive sciences
* a high degree of motivation and interest in shaping and working on a Ph.D. project on frequency effects in language
* communication skills in both English and German, and very good language skills (written and spoken) in at least one of these two languages (minimum: level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages)